Feast of the Resurrection
His Grace Bishop Suriel
Bishop of
The Resurrection brings joy to our lives!
“…and your joy no one will
take from you.” (John 16:22)
Dear beloved brethren, both clergy and laity,
Ekhristos Aftonf! Khen Ou Meth Mi Aftonf! Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen!
This is the joyous greeting that we use during
every gathering and meeting we have together in the holy Eastertide after the
Feast of the Resurrection.
It is a spiritual message of joy, rejoicing and
celebration that our Lord arose from the dead and has conquered death by His
death and resurrection.
Yes, indeed we worship a living and powerful God
who continues to act in the world today and everyday. Jeremiah the prophet
reminds us saying, “But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the
everlasting King.” (Jeremiah 10:10)
In recent months a new book and DVD have been
launched around the world titled “The Secret”, which claims that all your joy
can be fulfilled in knowing this so-called “secret” and knowing how to apply it
to your life. At the front of the book it says, “In this book, you’ll learn how
to use The Secret in every aspect of your life – money, health, relationships,
happiness, and in every interaction you have in the world. You’ll begin to
understand the hidden, untapped power that’s within you, and this revelation
can bring joy to every aspect of your life.” The book also claims that,
“Feeling happy now is the fastest way to bring money into your life.” It makes
many more preposterous claims. In fact this book is no more than Gnosticism
repackaged for the 21st century. It is the great deception of Satan
that you are your own creator and that you can find your happiness within you
because you are the creator of the Universe! The Scriptures tell us however,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and
without Him nothing was made that was made.” (John 1:1-3)
The Lord Jesus Christ says to us, “Come to
Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew
11:28) He says to His disciples, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me
you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good
cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Again, He says to His
disciples, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world
gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be
afraid.” (John 14:27) In the following chapter we also hear Christ saying,
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your
joy may be full.” (John 15:11) So, it is very clear from the Scriptures where
our true joy and peace come from, it is only from the Lord Christ and not from
any hidden secret.
Hence my brethren, do not allow these old
deceptions of Satan that keep raising their head in new forms deceive you. True
joy and peace can only be found in the risen Christ who has broken the bonds of
Satan and all his trickery. The joy we have on this holy day and throughout our
life is not a worldly joy of money, eating, drinking and making merry.
It is the joy of knowing the truth, the truth of
His resurrection, love and salvation of humanity for those who are willing to
believe and accept His message with joy. This is the truth that has withstood
2000 years and not some so-called “secret” that is now revealed to the world.
The Lord said, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free.” (John 8:32)
When the Lord appeared to His disciples after His
resurrection from the dead, He assures them by saying, “…and lo, I am with you
always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) How truly
comforting and joyful these words are, to know that Christ is with us always
and is our Protector from all evil.
Hence my dear brethren, do not let any exterior
circumstances shake you or trouble you, no matter how harsh they seem. The
resurrected living Christ is mightier than any tribulation and difficulty, put
your full trust in Him and rejoice in Him, even in the most difficult time, He
will grant you His joy and peace.
The Lord has overcome death and granted us victory
and so let us rejoice in Him. As
We entreat the risen Lord, the God
of joy, to preserve the life of our honoured father, His Holiness Pope Shenouda
III, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark. We ask the Lord
to grant the joy of His resurrection to the whole world. We also pray for our
beloved homeland of
Wishing you all a holy Feast full of joy and
spiritual rejoicing.
Be
absolved through His Holy Spirit.
Suriel
Servant of the Christ-loving Diocese of Melbourne and Affiliated Regions